Cattle-guard.



No. 7|6.500 Panted Dec. 23, |902.`

E. B. WASHBURN.

CATTLE GUARD.

` (Applicavtion filed Nov. 4, 1901.]

@No Model.)

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SPECIFIATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,500, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed November 4, 1901. Serial No. 81,156. iNo model.)

Ib all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. WASHBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Summertown, in the county of Lawrence and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Cattle-Guard, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in cattle-guards.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of cattle-guards and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one adapted to be readilyapplied to a track and capable of effectually preventing horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and other animals from passing from one inclosure to another where the partition or division fence is intersected by a railroad or other track.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a cattle-guard constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, one of the gates being swung upward. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l and 2 designate central and side frames designed to be arranged between the rails 3 and at the sides of the track, and each frame receives oppositely-disposed upwardly-swinging gates 4, vcomposed of side bars 5 and transverse rods 6, the latter forming the body of the gate and extending from the inner ends of the side bars to within a shortdistance of the outer ends of the same. The side bars are provided near their outer ends with enlargements or ears 7, through which pass pint-le-rods S, which are mounted on the side bars of the frame.

The frames 1 and 2 are preferably constructed of steel or othersuitable metal, and the upwardly-swinging gates are designed to be constructed of the same material. The side bars 5 extend beyond the pintle-rods S to form arms 9, which are connected by transverse rollers l0. Each transverse roller receives the inner portion 1l of a depressible plate l2, pivoted at the outer end between the side bars of the frame by means of a suitable rod or pintle 13 and adapted to be depressed by the weight of an animal, whereby when an animal attempts to cross the cattleguard the adjacent gate will be swung upward and bar the passage of the animal. The side edges 14 of the inner portion of the depressible plate are recessed to clear the arms of the gate, and the roller is adapted to move freely over the inner portion of the depressible plate or platform when the latter is moved downward.

The gates and the depressible platforms or plates lie normally in an approximately horizontal position and do not project above the rails, and the side frames extend to a sufficient distance beyond the rails to permit a fence or barrier to be built close to the frame, and yet allow engines or cars on the rails a clear and unobstructed passage. The plates or platforms are also preferably provided with keepers l5, secured to the lower faces of the plates or platforms and receiving the transverse rollers,to prevent the said plates or platforms from being swung upward away from the said rollers.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a cattle-guard,the combination of a frame designed to be arranged between the rails and at the sides of a track, the upwardly-swing ing gates pivotally mounted in the frame and arranged normally in a horizontal position and provided at their outer ends with arms, transverse rollers mounted between the arms and arranged at the outer ends of the gates, and the depressible plates arranged at the ends of the frame and pivoted at their outer ends and having their inner portions arranged upon and supported by the said rollers, whereby the gates will swing upward when the plates are depressed, substantially as described.

EDWARD B. WASHBURN. Witnesses:

Taos. A. BARNES, L. W. GARDEN. 

